The system of government in which states function independently of each other is a confederal system. In a confederal system, the member states keep most of the power and only give limited authority to a central government.

Key idea

In a confederal system, the central authority is weak, and:

  • States are largely sovereign , making their own laws and policies.
  • The central body can only do what the states allow it to do, often needing their consent to act.

Why not the others?

  • Unitary : Power is concentrated in a strong central government; local units exist but do not have true independent authority.
  • Federal : Power is shared between central and state governments; states have autonomy but are not fully independent of the central government.

Because the question asks where states would function independently of each other , the correct choice among “solitary, unitary, federal, confederal” is confederal.

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